Is Sargassum fusiforme the same as nori? One clear explanation of the differences between the two

I believe many people have heard of an algae called Sargassum fusiforme, which looks somewhat like nori, so is Sargassum fusiforme the same as nori?

1. Is Sargassum fusiforme the same as nori?

Sargassum fusiforme is not nori, but both are algae. Sargassum fusiforme is an alga of the family Sargassaceae, genus Sargassum, while nori refers to an alga of the family Bangiaceae, genus Porphyra.

2. Basic introduction to Sargassum fusiforme

Sargassum fusiforme is also called deer antler tip, sea vegetable sprout, goat milk fruit, sea barley and so on. It is an alga that grows on rocks in the lower intertidal zone and has relatively high nutritional and health value. Sargassum fusiforme is overall yellowish brown, with a plant height generally of 30-50cm.

The growth and development seasons of Sargassum fusiforme vary with the growing region. In the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, seedlings first appear from August to November and mature from May to October of the following year; in the East China Sea, seedlings appear from September to February of the following year and mature from April to August; in the South China Sea, the seedling maturity period is very early, generally from February to June (Zeng Chengkui et al. 2000). The reproduction period is generally from May to October, and because temperatures are higher in the south, it is somewhat earlier than in the north.

The growth and development of the Sargassum fusiforme thallus are clearly affected by environmental factors such as temperature, light, salinity, tides and nutrients. Among these, temperature and light are the most important influencing factors.

3. Basic introduction to nori

Nori is an alga rich in dietary fiber, multiple vitamins and trace elements such as calcium, potassium and magnesium. It is also the cultivated seaweed with the highest output value in the world, and it is distributed in coastal areas of China.

Although species of the genus Porphyra are distributed in frigid, temperate, subtropical and tropical seas, species diversity is rich in subtropical to temperate seas. In China, nori is mainly distributed in the intertidal zone from the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea to the southeast coast.

Nori is one of the seaweeds richest in protein, usually with a protein mass fraction of 25%-50% of the dry mass of nori.